Upstart Meanwaring is furious to learn that his chief clerk Arthur Wilson is leaving to become manager of the nearby branch of the bank in Eastgate, where HQ has also appointed him platoon commander with a promotion to Second Lieutenant. While everyone else congratulates the amiable gentleman, Meanwaring's jealous, socially inferior superior implies it's just the old boys network. He promotes Pike chief clerk, and orders him to copy for all platoon members a promotion to sergeant, meant only for Jones, but so phrased each thinks to get three stripes, creating a Mexican army version of platoon assembly. Alas the war shows its ugliest side.
—KGF Vissers